TJ Harris is one of the few University of Great Falls men’s basketball players who has logged a lot of minutes on the floor of the McLaughlin Center.

On Saturday the senior point guard took over when the Argonauts needed him the most as he sparked a 72-66 come-from-behind victory over Alberta-Augustana in the Argos’ season-opener.

“We are a young team and we knew we’re going to have to work hard,” Harris said. “We know it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a grind. I just didn’t want to lose.”

Harris poured in a game-high 28 points. His 3-pointer with 5:10 to play regained the lead for the Argos (1-0), and UGF never trailed again as first-year head coach Anthony Owens earned his first career victory.

“(TJ) did a little bit of everything,” Owens said. “I played him way more than I expected to. I expected to cut his minutes down. He plays like I want them to play – every night, every single possession.”

The Argos led 37-36 at the half, but the Vikings appeared to be pulling away midway through the second half as they opened up a 63-53 lead.

The Argos countered with a 14-0 run – including a 3-pointer from Harris and a transition basket following a key block from Dalton Groenewold – and took a 67-63 lead.

The Vikings never got closer than two the rest of the way as UGF held Alberta-Augustana without a field goal for the final 8:25.

“The first half we were giving up a lot of drives and we were closing out too hard,” Harris said. “We just clamped down in the last eight minutes and got stops.”